These are heady days for the boys from Hoylake. Tonight's 'secret gig' ( so secret it was broadcast live on Radio 0ne! ) is an invite only affair and billed as a warm up for The Midsummers Night Scream at New Brighton.
It's a Deltasonic night so the support comes from label mates THE BASEMENT whose upbeat and energetic live shows coupled with two fine single releases so far are fast earning them a reputation.
It's mostly a folk/country blues affair; a walkthrough of 'Highway 61 Revisited' era Bob Dylan, bread and butter stuff but entertaining nonetheless. The highlight being the raucous rendition of 'Stuck on the street at minus ten; their first single and on tonight's evidence, easily their best and most immediate song.
THE CORAL take to the stage following a big up from the nights compere- Steve Lamacq, clearly relishing his roll! and it's non stop action all the way. They begin with "Spanish Main" and the rallying cries of Captian Skelly and his loyal shipmates. After that comes 'Waiting for the Heartaches'and it's time for the toes to start tapping and the liverpool leg to shake. A look to my left and I find myself in the company of The Zutons, Hokum Clones and The Stands. They all stand cooly gazing in support and appreciation of
the undisputed standard bearers for this burgeoning North West Coast Scene.
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"Calendars and Clocks" comes next minus Bob Marley at the end followed by three from their rapidly expanding list of hit singles; the maniacal 'Skeleton Key'; the ecstatically received 'Dreaming of you' and one of their brilliant songs from the saddle 'Don't think you're the first'.
Somewhere in between they play two new songs, the folk flavoured 'Bill McKay' and another the name of which I can't remember. Both are good but it's hard to integrate new tunes into a set already bulging with classics.
They don't play new single 'Pass it on'; they're making us wait until New Brighton and there is no 'Shadows Fall'. They finish with a fifteen minute jam packed 'Goodbye' in which James Skelly joins his brother on drums while the rest of the band slip into a Hendrix/Led Zeppelin soaked groove; it's magical stuff.
One heck of a gig and a great opportunity to see them at the legendary Picket venue; catch them before the ship sets sail....
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